Floating deck for liquid-storage tanks



May 6 1924.

` J. H. WIGGNS FLOATING DECK For: LIQUID vs'romu: TANKS l File: Nov. 9,

1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l May e .4924.

. 1.493.174 J. H. wlGGINS FLOTING DECK 'FOR' LIQUID STORAGE TANKS in@Nov. 9. 1922 2 shun-sheer. 2

Patented May ,6, 1924.

UNITE-o STATE PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. WIGGINS, F BARTLESVILLE, OKLAHOMA FLOATING DECK FORLIQID-STORAGE TANKS.

Application nled November 9, 1922. Serial No. 599,903.

Floating Decks for Liquid-Storage Tanks,

- of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, suolias will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

This invention vrelates to liquid storage tanks of the type thatcomprise a'movable top or deck which floats upon and is supported by theliquid in the tank', and is an improvement upon the floating tank deckdescribed in my pending application for patent Serial No. 540,847, filedMarch 3,

@ne object of my present invention is to provide a floating deck forliquid storage -tanks of the same general type as the deck described inmy said application, which' comprises a liquid seal for closing thejoint or space between the central body portion of the deck and thevariable peripheral portion of the deck, thereby effectively sealing theannular space between the upwardlyprojecting rim on the central bodyportion of the deck and the shoe carried by the variable peripheralportion of the deck which slides against the inner surface of the sidewall of the-tank.

Another object is to provide a floating deck for liquid storage tanksthat has a peripheral portion which is capable of expanding andcontracting sufficiently to compensate for variations in the relativeposition and dimension ofthe deck and the side wall of the tank, andwhich is equipped with a liquid sealing means of such construction thatit will automatically relieve the internal pressure in the tank intheevent ofan internal explosion in the tank.

And still another object of my invention is toprovide a floating deckfor liquid storage tanks that comprises a'variable periph- -eral portioncomposed of relatively movable elements that are sustained and guided byrollers or other suitable rotatable devices that insure free and easyradial movement of said elements during the expansion and contraction ofthe peripheral portion ofv the deck. Other objects and desirablefeatures of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings isr a top'plan view, partly broken away, of artof the variable peripheral portion o a floating deck for liquid storagetanks constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view,

taken on the vertical section line 3 3 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 4.--4 of Figure1, looking tpwards the side wall of the tank.

The floating deck that forms the subjectmatter'of my present applicationis similar in general design and principle of operation to the oatingdeck for liquld storage tanks described in my pending applicationpreviously referred to, inthat it comprises a central solid body portionA that floats uponA the liquid in the tank, anda variable peripheralportion that serves as a closure for the annular space between saidcentral body portion A and the side wall'B of the tank and which isconstructed in such a manner that it is capable of expanding andcontracting suiiiciently to compensate for variations in the relativeposition and dimension of the deck and side wall of the tank. In theparticular form of my invention herein illustra-ted thevariable'peripheral portion of the deck is'composed of a number ofsubstantially segmental-shaped, horizontally-disposed plates C, each ofwhich has secured to its outer edge one segment D of an annular rshoethat bears against the inner face of the side wall B of the tank andwhose lower edge portion is submerged in the liquid in the tank, asshown in Figure 3, said plates C being so arranged that .they serve as aclosure .for the annular space between the side wall .B of the tank andal vertically-disposed, an-

nular rim E at the periphery of the central.

body portion A of the deck.

The function of the annular shoe composed of the segments D is to trapofi' any gas or vapor rising from the surface of that portion of theliquid in the tank lying between the side wall B and the rim E onl themain body portion A of the deck, and, in order to prevent said gas orvapor from escaping to the atmosphere, I have provided the deck with aliquid seal that effectively use a liquid 2 that will not freeze andwhich evaporates slowly, such, for example, as fuel oil. The trough 3preferably extends unbrokenly around the vertically-disposed rim E onthe central body portion A of the deck and is suppor-ted by brackets 4secured to said central body portion A and to the trough, as shown inFigure 3. Consequently, assuming that the joints between the plates Cand between the segments B of the annular shoe are gas and air-tight,the seal formed by the liquid 2 in the trough 3 and the dependingdevices 1 on the undersideor` the plates C eliminates the possibility ofair entering the tank by leaking through the joint between the, top edgeof the rim E and the plates C and also eliminates the possibility ofgases or vaporsescaping through said joint fronithe annular spacebetween :the rim E on the central body portion of the deck and theannular shoe which surrounds said rim.

In order to insure free and easy radial movement of the plates C, eachof said plates isv supported by a plurality of roof the deck to whichthe trough 3 are conl D is'held in snug engagement with the inner'nected. The rollers 5 can be secured to the plates C in any suitableway, as for example, by4 means of brackets 7 on said plates, whichcarrysaid rollers. Inl the form of my invention herein illustrated thelower edge portion of each of the shoe segments face of the side wall Bof the tank by horizontally-disposed, spring-pressed plungers H thatproject radially from the annular naamw.

rim E on the central body portion of the deck, as shown in Figure 3. Itis immate-V rial how the plungers Ii are mounted, but I prefer toarrange each of said plungers 1n a horizontally-disposed cylinder I thatprojects inwardly from the inner side of the rim'E on the-central bodyportion of the deck and which is equipped with a spring J that exertsIpressure on the plunger H in a direction to press the shoe segment Dthat co-operates with said plunger tightly against the side wall of thetank, the cylinder I being secured 'to the rim E by a collar 9 that iswelded to'said vparts and being equipped with a tubular stop 8 thatsurrounds the shank of the plunger H and forms an abut- ,ment againstwhich the head of the plunger I-Iv strikes .when said plunger reachesthe limit of its outward movement. By constructing the variableperipheral portion of the deck in the manner above described I not onlyobtain an air and gas-tight closure for lthe annular space between theside wall of the tank and the central body portion of the deck, but I'produce a structure in which the liquid seal between the variableperipheral portion of the deck and the central body portion of the deckwill .automatically relieve the internal pressure in the tank in theevent of an explosion in the tank, due to the fact that the sealingdevices 1 are submerged in a body of liquid 2, which is shallow enoughto permit an abnormal pressure to break through the seal.l

The joints between the segmental plates C and the segmental shoe membersD that are connected to said plates are closed by a means of novelconstruction that produces air and gas-tight joints between said partswithout, however, interfering with the relative movement of said partswhen the peripheral portion of the deck expands and contracts. In theform of my invention herein illustrated vthe means used for the purposejust referred to consists of co-operating tongues and pockets on saidparts arranged in telescopic relation. and a nonsolidifying, semi-liquid`substance in said pockets, such, for example, as axle grease,

.that co-operates with thetongues and the walls of the pockets to forman air and gas-tight seal between the same. As shown inl Figures 1 and4, each of the plates C and the shoe segment D that is secured to sameare provided at their right hand end with a laterally-projecting tongueK that slides in a pocket in the'leftl hand end of the adjacent plate Cand shoe segment D. Said tongue K is formed by asubstantiallyangle-shaped plate that comprises a horif zontally-disposedpart which is connected to the underside .of the plate C by fasteningdevices 10 and a vertically-disposed part that` is connected to theinner side of the shoe segment D on the plate C by n ieans of fasteningdevices 10, as shown in Figure .4. The pocket that receives said to e isalso formed by an angle-shaped plate connected to the underside oftheadjacent plate C and to the inner side oi? the shoe` segment D on saidadjacent plate by fastening devices 11 and 11, respectively, which.extends through a spacing strip 12, as

shown in Figure 4, that holds the plate K spaced far enough away from.the parts to which it is connectedy to form a substantially angle-shapedpocket which receives the an le-shaped tongue K on the adjacent late Cand shoe segment D, to the left. ooking at Figure 4. It will be noted inFigure l that the horizontally-disposed por tion of the plate K `thatconstitutes the' pocket just described does not extend clear across theentire width of the plate C to which it is connected, but terminates lata point in proximity to the depending sealing device 1 on the undersideof the plate C which projects downwardly into the liquid in the trough3. The' horizontal portion of the plate that constitutes the tongue K-,however, extends across the entire width of the plate C to which it isconnected, so as to close the gap or joint between the ends of twoadjacent plates C.

slidingjoints between the shoe segments D. i

The joints between the ends of the depending sealing -devices 1 on theunderside of the plates C are closed by members 1a, each of which ispivotally connected; by a vvertical pivot or pintle 14 to the right handend of one of the sealing devices 1 in such a way that it will lap overthe left hand end of the adjacent Ysealing device 1 as shown in Figure2. ln order to produce tight joints between the top edge of the members1a and the parts against which they bear, a gasket 15 and someaXlegrease or the like 16 are interposed between each of the members 1a andthe parts that overlap same, as shown in Figure2. Due to the fact thatthe members. 1a are pivotally mounted in such a way that they can ,swingin a horizontal plane, sa'id members 1 will not interfere with therelative radial movemen-t of the plates C, andas the joints or spacesbetween the top edges of the members -1 and the parts against which theybear are sealed b gaskets 15 and a nonsolidifying, semi-liquid substance16, it will be impossible for gas or air to enter the tank or escapetherefrom through the joints between the ends of the sealin devices 1 onthe underside of the plates A When the tank is filled with liquid, thecentral bod upon the liquid and the horizontally-disposed plates C closethe annular space between the side wall B of the tank and the centralbody portion A Aof the deck, vand thus protect the contents of the tankfrom fireand from evaporation, the variable peripheral ortion of thedeck formed by `the plates C ing of such construction that the diameterof same can increase or decrease automatically, and thus compensate forrelative movement between the side Wall of the ltank and the centralbody portion A of the portion A of the deck floats.

segments D is partially submerged in the V liquid m in the tank, and asthe plates C are provided with depending sealing devices 1 that aresubmerged in the liquid contained in the trough 3 carried by thelverticallydisposed rim E that surrounds the central body portion A ofthe deck, the annular space between the rim E and the annular shoe thatsurrounds said rim is protected-by two liquid seals, the joints betweenthe ends of the plates C and the joints between the ends of the shoesegments D connected to same being effectively sealed byV anonsolidifying, semi-liquid substance that coats the co-operatingengaging faces of the telescoped or overlapped members on the plates Cand shoe segments D. ln addition to effectively cutting offcommunication between the atmosphere and the interior of the tank, theconstruction above described is desirable, in that an abnormal pressurein the tank, caused by an internal explosion, will be relievedautomatically by the pressure i' breaking through the liquid seal formedby the depending devices 1 on the underside of the plates C and theshallow body of liquid 2 in. which said devices are submerged,

' Free radial movement of the plates C and the shoe segments D isassured by the rollers F and 5 between which the plates Care arranged,thereby insuring that the annular shoe will remain in snug engagementwithl the side wall ofthe tan Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A- floating deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportion that normally floats upon the liquid in the tank, a variableperipheral portion for closing the space between said main body portionand the side wall of the tank, and a. liquid seal.

' eral portion.

the elements constituting said 2. A. floating deck for liquid storagetanks, comprising a main body portion that normally floats upon theliquid in the tank, a variable peripheral portion composed of relativelymovable, horizontally-disposed elements for closing the space betweensaid main body portion and the side wall of the tank, and a liquid sealfor closing the joint or space between said main body-portion andvariable peripheral portion.

3. A ioating tanks, comprising a main body portion adapted to float uponthe liquid in the tank,

a peripheral portion for closing the space between said main bodyportion and the side wall of the tank comprising members that arecapable ot' moving relatively to each other to provide for the expansionand contraction of said variable peripheral portion, means for producingair and gas-tight joints between said members, and a liquid seal forpreventing the ingress 4or egress of gas or air through the spacebetween said` members and the main body por tion of the deck.

4. A loating deck for liquid storage tanks, com-prislng a main bodyportion adapted to normally float upon the liquid in the tank, and aliquid sealed, explansible and contractible means for closing t e spacebetween said main body portion and the side wall of the tank. y

5. A.' floating deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportion adapted to normally float upon the liquid 1n the tank, avariable peripheral portion for closing the space between said main bodyportion and the side wall of the tank comprising a shoe arranged insliding engagement with the side wall of the tank 'with its lower edgeportion submerged in the liquid in the tank, and a liquid seal forcutting oil` communication between the atmosphereV and the spacesurrounded by said shoe.

6. A floating deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportion adapted to normally float upon the liquld 1n ythe tank, avariable-peripheral portion composed of relatively` movable members andcomprising a shoe partially submerged 1n the liquid in the tank andcomposed of relatively movable members, means for producing air andgas-tight joints between all of said relatively movable members, and aliquid seal for producing a tight joint between the main bodyportion ofthe-deck and the relatively movable members of the peripheralportionthat project radially from said mainbody portion. Y

7.. A. oating deck for liquid storage deck for liquid storage tanks,comprising a main the vspace between said main body portion' and theside wall of the tank comprising relatively movable members, androtatable devices that support and guide said relatively movablemembers.

9. A floating deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportion adaptedv to normally float upon the liquid in the tank, avariable peripheral p'ortion comprising horizontally-disposed,.relatively C movable elements for closing v,the space between said mainbody portion and the side wall of the tank, rotatable devices thatsustain sai-d elements. and means for producing gas and air-tight jointsbetween said elements.

10. A floatingv deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportion adapted to normally l{ioat upon the liquid fin the tank, avariable peripheral portion comprising horizontally-'disposeiLrelatively movable elements for closing the space between said mainvbody portion and the side Wall o f the tank, rotatable devices thatsustain said elements, means for producing gas and air-tight jointsbet-Ween said-elements, and a liquid seal for closing the space or jointbetween the main body portion of the deck and said horizontally-disposedelements.

11'. A floating deck for liquid storage y portion adapted to float uponthe liquid in the tank, a variable peripheral portion composed ofrelatively movable, horizontally-disposed elements for closing the spacebetween said main body` portion and the side wall of the tank, a bodyvof liquid carried by said main body portion,- and sealing devices onsaid horizontally-disposed elements that project into said body ofliquid. v

12. A floating deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportion provided at its periphery with an upwardlyvprojecting rim,relatively movable, horizontally-disposed elements arranged above saidseal for closingl the joint between the updisposed elements.

.rim for closing the space between said rim and 'the side wall of thetank, and awliquid 13. A oating deck for liquidl storage y tanks,comprising a main body portion provided at its periphery. 'with anupwardlyprojecting rim, relatively movable, horizontally-disposedelements arranged above said rim for closing the space between said rimand the side wall of the tank, an annular shoe combined with saidhorizontally-disposed elements and arranged in sliding engagement withthe side wall of the tank with its lower edge submerged in the liquidinthe tank, and a liquid seal for closing the joint between the upperedge of said rim and said horizontally-disposed elements.

14. A floating deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportion provided at its periphery with an upwardlyprojecting rim,relatively movable, horizontally-disposed elements arranged above saidrim for closing the space between said rim and the side wall of thetank, an annular shoe combined with said horizontally-disposed elementsand arranged in sliding engagement with the side wall of the tank withlts lower edge submerged in the liquidl in the tank, a, liquid seal forclosing the joint between the upper edge of said rim and saidhorizontally-disposed elements, rotatable devices that sustain and guidesaid horizontally-disposed elements, and means for producing air andgas-tight joints between said horizontally-disposed elements.

15. A floating deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportion adapted to normally float upon the liquid' in the tank andprovided at its periphery with an upwardly-projecting rim, relativelymovable, horizontally-disposed elements for closl, ing the space betweensaid rim and the side wall of the tank, an annular trough carried bysaid rim and a-dapted to'contain a liquid, and depending sealing deviceson the underside `of said horizontally-disposed elements that projectdownwardly into the liquidin said trough.

16. A fioating deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportion adapted to normally float upon the liquld in the tank andprovided at-its periphery with lan u wardly-projecting rim, relativelymova le, horizontally-disposed elements for closing the space betweensaid rim and the side wall of the tank, an annular trough carried bysaid rim and adapted to contain a liquid, depending sealing devices onthe underside of said horizontallydisposed elements that projectdownwardly into the liquid in said trough, and rollers in said trough onwhich said horizontallydisposed elements slide.

17.' A floating deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportion adapted to normally oat upon the liquid 1n the tank and providedat its periphery with an upwardly-pro'ecting rim, relatively movable,horizontel ly-disposed elements for closing the space between saidrimand the side wall of'the tank, an annular trough carrled by said rimand adapted to contain a liquid, depending sealing devices on theunderside of said horizontally-disposed ele' tanks, comprising a mainbody portion adapted to normally float upon the liquid in the tank andprovided at its periphery with an upwardly-projecting rim, relativelymovable, horizontally-disposed elements arranged above said rim forclosing the spaceA l between the rim and the side wall of the tank, anannular shoe combined with said elements and arranged insliding engagement with the side wall of the tank, rotatable devices'for sustainingsaid horizontally-disposed elements, and means carried by the rim on thebody portion of the deck for exerting pressure on said shoe in a di,

rection to press it against the side wall of theJ tank.

' 9. A 'ioatig deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising a main bodyportlon adapted to normally float upon the liquid in the tank, avariable peripheral portion comprising a shoe arranged in slidingengagement with the side wall of thetank and a plurality of'horizontally-disposed, lrelatively movable members combined with saidshoe and main body portion so as to form a closure for the space betweenthe side wall of the tank and the main -body portion of the deck,rotatable devices for sustaining said variable peripheral portion, andmeans carried by said variable peripheral portion for causing said4 shoeto bear against the inner face of the side wall of the tank.

20. A ioating deck for liquid storage tanks, comprising'a main bodyportion, a

variable peripheral portion composed of relatively movable members lforclosing the` space between said main body portion and the side wall ofthe tank, co-operatlng tongues and pockets on said members arranged intelescopic relation, andbnon-saolidifying, semi-liquid material 1n saidpockets to produce air and gas-tight jointsbetween the rim and the sidewall of the tank, segmental shoe members connected to said plates andarranged in sliding engagement' with the side Wall of the tank, ahorizontally-disposed, annular trough arranged inside ofsaid rim that isadapted to 00ntain a liquid, sealing devices on the undersides of saidplates that project downwardly mesme into the liquid in said trough,rollers in said trough on which said plates slide, guides on the mainbody portion of the deck that maintain said plates in a substantiallyhorizontal position, and spring-pressed devices

